Rated YA-MA discussion

Summer is finally here!
This third quarter challenge -Summer is Fun- runs from July 1st through September 30th.

Because I’m just filling in for Dianne, I decided to embrace the “seasonal” part fully. The categories are all summer related. I tried to make them as open-ended as possible, so that; everyone can complete the challenge with ease.

There are six categories. You can read multiple books from each category to complete this challenge. But .... you can reward yourself a bonus win if you manage to read one book from each category.

Categories:
1. Summer Cover: read a book with a mostly yellow cover, “summer” or “vacation” in the title, or that shows a family all together
Potential ideas list from GR: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

2. Summer Release: read a book that is released between June 2018 - August 2018
Potential ideas list from GR: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1...

3. Summer Setting: read a book where part of the story is set at a classic summer vacation spot (the beach, a barbeque, an amusement park, etc.) or the book mostly takes place in the summer
Potential ideas lists:
https://www.bustle.com/p/20-celebrity...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

4. Summer Clothes: read a book where a character on the cover is depicted in a summer ensemble (barefoot, sandals, shorts, sundress, sleeveless T, bathing suit, etc.)

5. Summer Essentials: read a book with a cover that depicts an iconic summer item (ice cream, suitcase, sunglasses, seashells, kids outside toys, etc.)
Potential Ideas lists:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

6. Back to School: read a book with a story that takes place as the character is starting a new school year

Standard Rules:
♦ Audio books are allowed.

♦ All of the books MUST be at least 150 (paper) pages in order to qualify for this challenge. If the kindle or eBook pages are different than the paper count, please provide the correct number, so no books are left out unjustly. If you are reading an ebook only book, the word count MUST be a minimum of 45,000.

♦ 5 out of 6 of your books for this challenge must be YA.

Tracking Progress:
I'll be keeping track of participant’s progress (as much as possible) in post #2. Participants will be listed alphabetically by their name and the number of their original post in the challenge.

Posting Suggestions
1. When posting your progress, please remember to use the number attached to your original post as well. (This will be especially useful to save me from mixing up folks with similar names).

2. When posting the Title of your book let us know what category it falls in.

3. It is also nice, but not necessary, to tell us what you thought of the book just in case it grabs the interest of another member also.

4. Lastly, in your signup post, if you can, recommend books you’ve already read to help others compile a list of awesome books for this challenge.

Updates
♦Amy (post #6) 3 / 6 (summer setting, summer cover, back to school)
♦Barb (post #9)
♦Jennifer (post #10)- 6 / 6 (summer setting, summer clothes, back-to-school, summer release, summer cover, summer essentials)
♦Kdbrand (post #4)- 6 / 6 (summer setting, summer title, summer clothes, summer essentials, summer release, back-to-school)
♦laurel (post #5)- 6 / 6 (back-to-school, summer release, summer essentials, summer release, summer setting)
♦Melanie (post #3)- 6 / 6 (summer setting, summer clothes, back-to-school)
♦Sara (post #11)
♦Casey (post #18)
♦Mich (post #19) 1 / 6 (summer release)

Completed!
♦laurel
♦Jennifer
♦Kdbrand
♦Melanie

Bonus Challenge Completed!
♦Jennifer
♦Kdbrand

Melanie's Challenge ideas/ updates
Finished
1. 4 stars Watership Down
2. 4 stars Bad News
3. 3.5 stars Discount Armageddon MA
4. 4 stars The Battle of the Labyrinth
5. 3 stars Monday's Not Coming
6. 3 stars When Dimple Met Rishi

Ideas
♦ Summer Cover: mostly yellow cover, “summer” or “vacation” in the title, or shows a family all together/
MA-

YA-

Recommendation:


♦ Summer Release: the book is released between June 2018 - August 2018
MA-

YA-


♦ Summer Setting: part of the story is set at a classic summer vacation spot (the beach, a barbeque, an amusement park, etc.) or the book mostly takes place in the summer
YA-

Recommendations:


♦ Summer Clothes: a character on the cover is depicted in a summer ensemble (barefoot, sandals, shorts, sundress, sleeveless T, bathing suit, etc.)
MA-


♦ Summer Essentials: the cover depicts an iconic summer item (ice cream, suitcase, sunglasses, seashells, kids outside toys, etc.)
Recommendation:


♦ Back to School: the story takes place as the character is starting a new school year
YA-

Recommendations:
(all of them)

Count me in! I love the summer theme!!

Completed 6/6

OMG yes! I can count all my new releases!

The possibility pool:


Read 6/6
(back to school)(MG)
(back to school/summer release)
(summer release)
(summer essentials)
(summer release)
(summer setting)

I haven't done a challenge for a while so I might give this one a go. count me in.

Thanks Melanie! I have been very busy and you are on top of things! Have fun everyone :)

Diane wrote: "Thanks Melanie! I have been very busy and you are on top of things! Have fun everyone :)"

Good luck with the move, Diane!

I’m in!

I'm in as well.

List of Potentials:
1. Summer Cover:
2. Summer Release:
3. Summer Setting:
4. Summer Clothes:
5. Summer Essentials:
6. Back to School:

Finished:

I’m so in.

Jennifer wrote: "I'm in as well.

List of Potentials:
1. Summer Cover:
2. Summer Release:
3. Summer Setting:
4. Summer Clothes:
5. Summer Essentials: [bookcover:Love & Gelato|2..."

OMG I love Protector of the Small!

laurel [suspected bibliophile] wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I'm in as well.

List of Potentials:
1. Summer Cover:
2. Summer Release:
3. Summer Setting:
4. Summer Clothes:
5. Summer Essentials: [bookcove..."

Ok, so I must admit that I am very, very new to Tamora Pierce!! I first read her Trickster duology in September-ish and then I went crazy it was so amazing!!! I got her Alanna quartet and Immortals quartet for Christmas and they were so very good.
It's insane that I waited until I was in my 30s to read an amazing author that writes in my favorite genre!!!

Jennifer wrote: "laurel [suspected bibliophile] wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I'm in as well.

I grew up reading her—and I'm so thankful for that!

The world-building in the Tortall books is so fascinating and well-conceived.

Finished my first one! --story takes place during summer

Updated post #4

Book #1

Summer Setting
This is a classic that I never got around to reading. It was enjoyable but longer than I was expecting.

PS: The audio version I listened to has a cover with quite vicious looking rabbits on it. I was scrolling for the right cover and noticed the rest of the covers have these really pleasant looking, solitary rabbits and/or serene landscapes...

Updated for all July 8! It is not too late to join in.

I've faild a lot lately but may try this one! Count me in

I'll try this also!

Finished #1 (Summer release - July)

Finished #2 --summer in title

My summer choices so far have made me cry. Hope my next one is more upbeat!

Updated post #4

Welcome, Casey and Mich. Hopefully the categories are broad enough that you'll find awesome books that fit the challenge.

Updated for all July 15

Finished #3-- --summer clothes

This is a cute book about falling in love for the first time, 3 stars.

Updated post #4

Finished book 1!

(back to school)

It's over 200 pages, so I'm counting it! If you've read anything by Raina Telgemeier, you'll know what you're getting into. I liked it, but I felt like it wasn't as good as Smile, Sisters or the Baby-Sitters Club series. It was on par with Ghosts.

Callie loves the theater, and when her school starts a new production of Moon Over Mississippi, she's appointed as the set designer! But between the drama on stage and the drama off stage, and her growing feelings for two brothers new to the school, Callie doesn't know if she can manage.

Finished the first three books.
- Takes place at a summer vacation destination (setting) - Coney Island
- Summer clothes, also she's in the ocean, that's totally summery :)
- Starting a new school year

Undertow and Wake were okay reads, but not enough that I want to continue their storylines. I really enjoyed Blythewood a lot. I found it for $1, so it was quite a great deal :)

updated 7/22. Hope y'all are having a great start to your summers!

Updated my post #19

Finished my first one (summer release)


I was disappointed. But then again, I'm cursed with having problems with series finales. (I always let my expectations affect me. And I happened to have REALLY loved this particular series, so my expectations had been kinda ridiculously high lol.)

Awe no! I'm getting ready to start this series as soon as I'm done with my current book. I'm really looking forward to it! I hope I'm not let down by the finale too. I know what you mean about them being a let down. It makes me sad.

mich wrote: "Updated my post #19

Finished my first one (summer release)


I was disappointed. But then again, I'm cursed with having problems with series finales. (I always ..."

Finished book 2

(back to school/summer release)

Not gonna lie, this felt majorly misadvertised. It was less stabby and so much talk and blah and honestly I didn't give a flaming f— about Monica.

Full review here in case anyone wants to see my amazing gif skillz:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Jennifer wrote: "Awe no! I'm getting ready to start this series as soon as I'm done with my current book. I'm really looking forward to it! I hope I'm not let down by the finale too. I know what you mean about them..."

Still look forward to it! :) I really liked the first 2 books a lot. And it looks like a lot of people like the last book as well, so don't worry! hopefully you'll like it :)

Update Melanie (#3)


Summer Setting- summer camp
This is closer to MG than YA, but I've been following this series & author for a while and I have liked all of his works. Lemony Snicket fans should also like this author.

Everyone should be updated 7/29!

Finished book 3
summer release

It's a feminist book that says all of the right things at the right times, but something just felt off. I couldn't put a finger on it. However, it is enjoyable, particularly in the last 90%. 3.5 stars.

Finished #4 -summer essentials

Updated post #4

Read a new release for #5 -trying to get through this challenge before school starts.

Updated post #4

Oh I'm struggling with this one. I'm trying to find summer related YA books I want to read. I have these two lined up but I'm not sure if they fit any of the categories. Can anyone help me??? Anyone read these and know if they fit or not? Thanks!

,

Art of Lainey is set in the summer. Unfortunately, The Sun is Also a Star is set in fall.

You can also scroll through this whole page and see what others are reading. It may give you ideas. FYI: you don’t need to hit each category. 6 books any way you can mix and match will do. Good Luck!

Thank you Melanie!

I've finished book #4: Summer Release -

It's the conclusion to a great duology set in feudal Japan. I enjoyed both books. Although I would say book 1 was better. However, I did like how it ended :)

-Updated post #10

Kdbrand wrote: "Read a new release for #5 -trying to get through this challenge before school starts.

Updated post #4"

You certainly are rocking this challenge!

Book #3

MA - summer clothes

This is a pretty standard Seanan McGuire book. It's kind of campy, light-on-facts sci-fi. It is not as deep as the Newsflesh trilogy, but fun in its own way.

updated 8/14

Reminder: the challenge runs through the end of September; it's never too late to join.

Book 4 is done!

(summer essentials)

I WILL finish this challenge

I just need to stop reading MG books and graphic novels and be an adult lmao

Post #5 is updated

Melanie wrote: "Kdbrand wrote: "Read a new release for #5 -trying to get through this challenge before school starts.

Updated post #4"

You certainly are rocking this challenge!"

Thanks, Melanie! School started last week, and I am suffering my beginning of school year teacher tired. Now to find a shorter, back-to-school book to complete the challenge!!

Finished book 5
(summer release)
I absolutely adored the Moroccan-inspired sci-fi setting, and came away wanting a lot more of the setting and the world and the background (there was so much background and I felt like what I got was just a brief scraping off the very top layers—part of the problem was the first person POV with Amani, who doesn't get out much). It had a lot of potential, but fell short due to massive plot-dragging from the clunky insta-love sub/main(?) plot.

Finished my first 2 books.

1. - Summer setting
2. - Summer cover

I'm on the board. yay!

You are all updated.
Good luck as you say goodbye to summer and wend your way to the challenge end.

Finished book 6!

(summer setting)

This is a cute retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day Brooklyn and featuring a Haitian-Dominican Elizabeth Bennet and a Black Mr. Darcy.

It's very, very good.

For some reason I thought this challenge was over. Since it's not I can add . (Summer setting and back to school) I really enjoyed this one. Very sweet.

laurel [suspected bibliophile] wrote: "Finished book 6!

(summer setting)

This is a cute retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day Brooklyn and featuring a Haitian-Dominican Elizabeth Bennet and a Bl..."

Woo Hoo! Congratualtions!